Triumph and TAG Heuer honor Steve McQueen with special Bonneville
Triumph Bonneville Heuer - Click above for high-res image gallery
Triumph and TAG Heuer have joined forces to create a one-of-a-kind Bonneville Heuer motorcycle. Inspired by Steve McQueen and the Porsche 917 K that the famous actor, racer and motorcycle rider piloted in the classic film Le Mans, the Bonneville Heuer is painted up in the classic Gulf Oil blue and orange scheme and will be used for promotional purposes.
McQueen famously wore a Heuer Monaco watch in the aforementioned silver screen race drama and was a renowned Triumph enthusiast. Says Neil Morley, Triumph's Head of Brand Communications:
As much as we'd like to tell you this will be an optional color choice for the production Bonneville, that's not currently the case. If you like it as much as we do, perhaps a phone call to your local Triumph dealer is in order.We are delighted to play our part in this exciting project. The Triumph Bonneville and TAG Heuer Monaco are both timeless masterpieces, celebrating their respective 50th and 40th anniversaries this year. We also both have a natural connection with Steve McQueen, who famously wore a Monaco watch in the film Le Mans and was renowned for his love of our bikes, making this a very natural collaboration.
Gallery: Triumph Bonneville Heuer
[Source: Triumph]
PRESS RELEASE
Triumph, TAG Heuer Collaborate To Create Steve McQueen-Inspired Motorcycle
ATLANTA (November 5, 2009) – British motorcycle manufacturer Triumph and Swiss watch manufacturer TAG Heuer have collaborated to create a special, one-of-a-kind "Bonneville Heuer" Triumph motorcycle. The association between Triumph and TAG Heuer comes as a result of their common values and the legacy of Steve McQueen, who was famously linked to both brands.
The TAG Heuer Bonneville features a unique blue and orange paint scheme that was inspired by the Porsche sports car driven by Steve McQueen's character in the movie Le Mans (1971). McQueen wore TAG Heuer's Monaco watch in the movie, and today TAG Heuer is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the watch.
McQueen rode Triumph motorcycles personally and in movies such as The Great Escape (1963). Triumph Motorcycles continues that relationship with McQueen's estate to create vintage styled McQueen apparel. For 2010, the Triumph clothing range includes a jacket and t-shirt reminiscent of when McQueen raced a Triumph in the International Six Days Trials in Germany.
"We are delighted to play our part in this exciting project. The Triumph Bonneville and TAG Heuer Monaco are both timeless masterpieces, celebrating their respective 50th and 40th anniversaries this year," said Neil Morley, Triumph's Head of Brand Communications. "We also both have a natural connection with Steve McQueen, who famously wore a Monaco watch in the film Le Mans and was renowned for his love of our bikes, making this a very natural collaboration."
The special Triumph Bonneville was unveiled in Paris by Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 Formula One world champion and TAG Heuer brand ambassador, and can be seen at various watch shows and TAG Heuer retailers throughout Europe.
The Triumph Bonneville was born in 1959 to recognize Johnny Allen's land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The Triumph Bonneville was an instant hit in America and the UK, and 50 years later continues to be one of Triumph's most iconic motorcycles. Despite its classic appearance, the new Triumph Bonneville motorcycles feature state-of-the-art design and performance.
The full range of Triumph motorcycles are available at authorized Triumph dealers throughout North America. To find your local Triumph dealer, please visit www.TriumphMotorcycles.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
leftlaneabuse 12:29PM (11/07/2009)
McQueen has just turned over in his grave.
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John 4:03PM (11/07/2009)
Quite.
Nicholas 4:03PM (11/07/2009)
Quite.
homunculus 1:58PM (11/07/2009)
mcqueen did ads for the cigarettes that eventually killed him.
i love the retro paint job on this triumph.
michael pettibone 1:43PM (11/07/2009)
Don't care what color it is,GIVE IT SOME GUTS!
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Gungosa 1:49PM (11/07/2009)
I think it's gorgeous.
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twistedbitz 2:17PM (11/07/2009)
Loved his movies like Bullit, Sand Peebles, Magnificent 7, On Any Sunday, Le Mans, Papillon, Reivers, Hunter, Junior Bonner, and one of my favs Tom Horn. He did only 29-30 movies. He also did a TV show called Wanted: Dead Or Alive from 1958-1961.One of his first movies was “The Blob”, he raced backwards in it.
Saw him race out at Indian Dunes and the Lake Elsinore Grand Prix dirt bike race. His son Chad once drove in an off road race that I raced in… I think the Mint 400.
BTW... Steve did 3 ciggie ads for Viceroy back when he did Wanted: Dead or Alive, 3.
Not a big Triumph fan, Steve also had BSA, Husqvarna and others.
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twistedbitz 2:18PM (11/07/2009)
But... it's kool they are honoring him.
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Level 2:27PM (11/07/2009)
I like the bike very vintage looking and not over the top...
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Monica Dickey 5:24PM (11/07/2009)
A little more power might be cool to honor him, but I bet this bike is a really fun ride, and I love the retro paint job!
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Ken Stamper 10:01PM (11/08/2009)
Two things:
One, I think this bike is gorgeous, and I don't think McQueen would have an issue with someone using his likeness to sponsor products that he liked anyways.
Two, It is NOT true that McQueen got lung cancer from cigarettes. He died from mesothelioma- a form of lung cancer primarily associated with asbestos exposure.
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MikeInNC 9:09AM (11/09/2009)
Hey Ken, having worked in Asbestos litigation for 10 years I can say without reservation that the people that has said exposure and were also smokers were almost exclusively the worst cases. Jury awards for mesothelioma cases where someone was a non-smoker were always much higher b/c it was MUCH rarer.